The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-10
RUMOR OF A BIG STEAL.
Boston Official Said To Be 5000, 600 Short,
but Indications Do Not Support the Charge.

Boston, Mass, Jan. 9-It has been learned
that John G. Leighton, for nineteen years clerk
of the Municipal Criminal Court in this city, is
short in his accounts to a large amount. The
exac. sum of the defacation will not be known
until the expert now engaged on the books COM
pletes his labors. 1t is stated, however. by City
Auditor Dodge that the total will be perhaps
100000, or more Leighton was appointed in 1867,
and held the Office up to within a short time ago.
In the court in which he served, thousands of
criminal cases are tried annually, and money
received for fines and costs is all turned over to
the clerk, who is supposed to deposit it with the
city treasurer of Boston, who is also county
treasurer. 1t is said that tile present auditors
predecessors have not audited accounts of this
court for years. as implicit confidence seems to
have been placed in Clerk Leighton.
Beginning with 1870, published reports of the
city auditor respecting this department show
curious figures From 1870 to 1875 Clerk Leigh
toms receipts for fines, costs. fees. ETC., were
the greatest-the total being 1926, 937-an aver
age of over ST.. 900 year. From 1876 to 1880
he is credited on the books of the city auditor
with having turned in $50, 239, or an average of
little more than $4,000 year From 1880 to
1886, the last years of his administration, he is
credited with having turned in to the city treas
ury STAT 0l3, or an average of more than $24,-
SIT. A dropping off of So, 900 a year dur
ing the second five years of his office is unac-
counted for except on the theory that the money
went to the pockets of the individual rather
than to the city treasury AS high as %. 600
cases year, or even more, have been brought
before this court during Mr.. Leghtons clerk
Oh; p1scU vv;n
day, and the fines in such cases are seldom less
than S. each. to say nothing about the large
number of cases of assault and battery and other
minor offenses. The term of Clerk Leighton
expired q short time ago. but he was reappoint-
ed by Governor Robinson. and shortly after his
reappointment he resigned. Whether or not
the fact that he was an embezzler of the coun-
tvs funds was known previous to his resigning
has not been learned For many years he has
been known only an honored and respected
citizen, and the blow will be severe one. What
he did with all the money he has taken is a mys-
| terry to his friends. His habits of life were not
| extravaganza and he bad no family His salary
| was So, 900. His property is assessed for $45,-
| 600. but it is said to be worth great deal more
| than is represented the assessors books
City Auditor Dodge, this morning emphatic
| ally denied making the statement attributed to
| him by morning paper. that Mr.. Leghtons
accounts were probably $1,000 short Mr.
| DoQg0 SalO ne mao no RutnOllty TO see the COOKS
of the clerk of the court, and therefore could
not make such statement as he is credited with.
| The city auditor. he said, has nothing whatever
! to do with the clerks accounts, or with the
| financial business of the court, beyond approx
| ing all expense bills before they can be paid. In
| Mr. Leighton's case the judges of the Municipal
| Court We're the ones to audit the accounts. The
| present investigation of his books is being
made under their direction, and any proceedings
against MIR. Leighton must be inaugurated by
them
The Journal says of the alleged defalcation of
| Clerk Leighton. when Mr.. John G. Leighton
Unexpectedly resigned, in December last as
clerk of the Municipal Court after twenty years
of service, there was much surprise expressed
by persons who knew him we'll About that
| it became known that his accounts were
not correct, aud. when asked about it by the
| judges, Mr. Leighton admitted that such was the
fact but said that it was attributable only to
unintentional errors on his part. and that Re was
| ready, when the amount WAS ascertained, tc
make the deficiency good. An expert was Their
employed by the judges, but it will take long
time to ascertain whether the shortage amounts
to sufficient sum to show undoubted Grim
inal intention on the part of Mr.. Leighton. NJ
proceeding against him has been begun. Th'
statement that Mr.. Leightons defalcation will
amount to 5000, 0o0 or upwards. cannot, at thi;
stage, at least, be borne out by facts, there il
not the least evidence, as get upon which a com
plant could be maintained that should charg
him with even the embezzlement of 81 ,600n
Judge Forsaith, who was seen at the court
| room to-day, assured reporter that the dis
crepancy in Leightons accounts was compare
lively small and that Leighton could straichte,
Judge laughed at the idea of the amount reach
ing 100000.
Gallagher Lets 'Er Go.